When anyone pinched him in the chest hard, he squeaked and shut his eyes, as if it hurt him--and very likely it did. He wore a tawdry jester's dress of red and blue, and once he had even carried a cymbal in each hand and clapped them together every time they made him squeak; but he had always disliked being obliged to make so much noise, for he was of a quiet and retiring nature, and so he had got rid of his unmusical instruments as soon as he could. Still, even without the cymbals, his appearance was hardly respectable, and Ethelinda was a little annoyed to find him so near her, though he never guessed her feelings, which was fortunate for him, for he had fallen in love with her. Since he first entered the nursery he had had a good deal of knocking about, but his life there had begun to seem easier to put up with from the moment she formed part of it. He had never dared to speak to her before, she had never given him the chance; and besides, it was quite enough for him to look at her; but now he thought she meant to be friendly and begin a conversation. 'Are you very dull here then?' he asked rather nervously. Ethelinda stared at first; no one had introduced him, and she felt very much inclined to take no notice; however, she thought after her long silence that it might amuse her to talk to somebody, even if it was only a shabby common creature like this jester. So she said, 'Dull! You were never in Regent Street, or you wouldn't ask such a question.' 'I came from the Lowther Arcade,' he said. 'Oh, really?' drawled Ethelinda; 'then, of course, this would be quite a pleasant change for you.' 'I don't know,' he said; 'I liked the Arcade. It was so lively; a little noisy perhaps--too much top spinning, and pop-gunning, and mouth-organ playing all round one--but very cheerful. Yes, I liked the Arcade.' 'Very mixed the society there, isn't it?' she asked; 'aren't you expected to know penny things?' 'Well, there _were_ a good many penny things there,' he owned, 'and very amusing they were. There was a wooden bird there that used to duck his head and wag his tail when they swung a weight underneath--he would have made you laugh so!' 'I hope,' said Ethelinda freezingly, 'I should never so far forget myself as to laugh under any circumstances--and certainly not at a _penny_ thing!' 'I wonder how much _he_ cost?' she thought; 'not very much, I can see from his manner. But perhaps I can get him to tell me. Do you remember,' she asked aloud, 'what was the--ah--the premium they asked for introducing you here--did you happen to catch the amount? 'Do you mean my price?' he said; 'oh, elevenpence three farthings--it was on the ticket.' 'What a vulgar creature!' thought Ethelinda; 'I shall really have to drop him.' 'Dear me,' she said,'that sounds very reasonable, very moderate indeed; but perhaps you were "reduced"?' for she thought he would be more bearable if he had cost a little more _once_.